Across Michigan and other states, individuals are gearing up for “No Kings” demonstrations set for October 18th, aimed at championing democracy and the freedom of expression. This announcement came from Michigan lawmakers and community figures during a press briefing on Monday.
The June “No Kings” protests saw participation from millions nationwide, and Michigan officials are hopeful for an even larger turnout this time around.
Representatives Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) have voiced concerns about the growing threat of authoritarianism, encouraging citizens to engage. Pohutsky remarked, “We are watching a president claim unchecked power, punish critics, and deploy troops against our citizens.”
Tarun Patel, affiliated with Indivisible Ironwood—a national movement countering government overreach—shared his perspective as an immigrant who went through extensive processes to earn U.S. citizenship. “That’s why the first amendment means something to me. I didn’t inherit it. I earned it,” he stated.
Patel highlighted instances where President Trump has allegedly exerted pressure to silence dissenters, referencing actions against The Washington Post, Paramount, and public figures like Jimmy Kimmel. He further noted instances of educators and public servants being dismissed over social media activity. “Dissent is patriotic,” Patel emphasized, “That’s why we’re rallying here, because this country has no kings.”
Jay Gibbs from the Lansing No Kings Coordinating Committee criticized the use of military forces for political purposes, stating, “No political leader should be using our soldiers or the National Guard as political pawns against other Americans.”
Isa Azaria, a part of the We the People Dissent Indivisible Detroit coalition, expressed unease about ICE operations, referencing incidents of immigrants being detained at courthouses and masked individuals pulling people into unmarked vans. “These incidents have become policy, which have become acts of terror,” she remarked. In September, a major ICE raid in Chicago led to the arrest of 37 individuals.
Azaria continued, “A militarized police force storming homes, detaining people without warrants, and brutalizing families is not law enforcement, it’s state violence… Even if you think this doesn’t touch your life, it will.”
Christy McGillivray, director of Voters Not Politicians, a group advocating for democracy, stated, “We call ourselves Americans because we are fundamentally grounding ourselves in our right to disagree with our own government.” She added, “What we’re experiencing is Trump’s attempt to turn anyone who disagrees with him into a criminal.”
Shanay Watson-Whittaker of Reproductive Freedom for All emphasized the disconnect between public opinion and political actions. She noted, “They’re redefining who counts as an American… the only legitimate Americans are those that agree with them and look like them.”
Details of local protest events are available at www.nokings.org.
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